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Leaders and Leadership in Organizations

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The foundation of a successful organization is defined by a strong leader. Regardless of the type, size, or financial performance, the foundation of the organization still lies in the hands of a leader. The success or failure of an organization is often linked to the leadership style and ability of the leader. There is no “one size fits all” leadership style and it is essential that each leader develop his or her own style to successfully lead the organization. There has also been a link found between the personality of an individual and their leadership capabilities as it relates to the overall leadership style of the formal or informal leader. “Leadership style is the manner and approach of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people.” (Clark, 2013) In order to provide direction and implement plans, the four decision making styles that have been identified are autocratic, consultative, group, and delegated. These four styles have been derived from the Vroom and Yetton Model.
Leaders of an organization are not limited to those individuals who hold a managerial or official title or those who are highest on the hierarchy of an organization. “While too often we can find powerful people who do not hold genuine positions of authority, we frequently find people who are in a position of authority, but are powerless to influence the behavior of others.” (Goncalves, 2013) Formal leaders are those who have been given or have earned their place at the top of the organization such as presidents, chief executive officers, managers, etc. Informal leaders also exist within the organization and play an important role in the organization. Informal leaders can work for or against the success of an organization. These informal leaders do not have the formal title or authority within the organization but their personality traits, abilities, and skills

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